Hey guys, it's Razor here with another game review! Today I will be reviewing a great game none other than contra! This game was released in 1988 by Konami for the NES and it is basically a platform shooter type game where you must advance through each of its levels, in this game, you dodge bullets, shoot enemies and get power ups along the way which is really a lot of fun. I will say that this game was rather difficult for me in many parts, but it is a pretty good game overall nevertheless. Now without further a do, on to the review!

Gameplay:

Before I really get into anything in the game, I want to cover the basic game play first if you don't mind.

I think this game is one of a kind and it is one of the best shooter games, most other shooter games in its time just weren't the same and would be outgunned by this game's awesomeness. This game features a lot of shooting and blasting and killing which is all one could ask for in a good shooting game right? The controls are pretty simple, the b button is for shooting and you can jump with the a button and you can crouch by pressing down, but that is pretty much it for this game control wise. It all comes down to how you deal with the bullets and how you will react to them coming towards you and how you can counter them with your own massive firepower. You have limitless ammo which is pretty useful considering you are going to need it every step of the way. The levels in this game are similar but they aren't exactly the same every time like pacman for example, they are alike in the sense that there are enemies in each one and you will have to jump from platform to platform in each level. Enemies will appear across the screen or you can get them by shooting enemies, and they will provide you little powerups like a shield to deflect bullets, better weaponry, or even an extra life. The cool thing about this game is that you have unlimited continues to keep going, you may only start out with 3 lies, but there is no amount of continues, so you can never really die and loose this game since you can just keep going. There are also some pretty difficult and even overwhelming bosses at the end of each level, but the plus side to this, is that their weak spot is indicated by a flashing body part you can shoot at to defeat them, I think this is useful because it gives you a place to shoot rather than just shooting it clueless and hoping you beat it. The controls in this game are also very responsive and have little to no lag when you press them, so overall, I can safely say you will have a great time with this game with all that it has to offer you. Now onto the review for good!

Graphics: 8

In the beginning of the game, it is mostly a side scroller along with some shooting, you have your character armed with his huge gun and you move in one direction. Later on in the game though, the view will alternate and you will go from a behind view to parts in the game where it looks more realistic and 3d in appearance. I think the graphics of this game are pretty good and it really stretches the potential of the NES, the characters, the animation and the lighting and color scheme are all very vibrant and colorful and they all really stand out. Each level of the game is packed with stunning detail and intricacy, the graphics are so good, it ranks on my top 5 list for best top NES game graphics. Yeah, it is that good. There is just so much detail and effort put into making everything in the game colorful and make it catch your eye. Everything concerning the graphics in this game are superb and I think the graphics of this game are enough to make you want to play it. Because of this I scored it a 10 out of 10. For it's time, I don't think any graphics compared to the level of detail put into this one, it is simply amazing. You are probably thinking why i scored the graphics of this game so high since it is old, but I think that for a game this old, the graphics are much better than the time it was made suggests. That is my reasoning for giving it the score that I did.

Sound: 8

The sound of this game is really good as well, The music would change tempo with each boss and there was also some techno in the game as well. I don't think it is as memorable as mario or sonic music for instance, but nevertheless, I think it is still pretty good sound wise, it really got me in the mood to play the game. Each track on each level of the game was just amazing to listen to. The music of this game doesn't sound it bit at all, rather it sounds like it is much higher quality. The only other thing that I can say about the music is that it quits each level of the game very well in my opinion. I like rock music, so this game really plays to my liking. Sound wise it isn't too bad either, the sound made when you fire your gun is a bit cheesy since it is 8 bit, but that is understandable considering when this game came out, so I'm not going to focus on that too much and make a big deal out of it. The sounds of the game is pretty good and in particular, it is really defined after an explosion. Overall, this game has some pretty good sound, and some even better music. So between the two, I scored it a 9 out of 10. So far this game is doing amazing considering it came out almost 30 years ago.

Addictiveness: 8

Even though the game is pretty challenging, I still think it is fairly addicting and re playable, I had a blast with this game even though it was really hard several times throughout, but that shouldn't hinder you from playing it. In fact, I think that challenging games are some of the most replayable because you will remember how you did it the first time and how much fun you had getting through it which in turn makes it a very memorable experience. I think it is just one of those classic games that you really come to enjoy and fins very memorable and replayable. This game also has a lot going for it that contribute to it being addicting, the plot/ storyline, the great sound and music, and also the amazingly colorful and bright graphics that look way ahead of its time. So add all that in, and I think this game is pretty addicting. So because of all that this game has going for it, I scored it an 8 out of 10 as far as addictiveness goes. This game offers plenty of levels for you to enjoy and it does have a few unique cheat codes as well, however, I recommend you try beating the game legitimately first before you try anything because you won't enjoy it as much, but it is your choice. And finally, one of the best things I like about this game is that is multiplayer, so you can enjoy this game with a buddy! So this game has its reasons for being addicting and I am more than likely going to play this game again soon and I know I am going to really enjoy it and I can guarantee you will too if you give this game a try!

Story: 7

The story in this game is fairly good as well and at least it doesn't take the save the princess type plot like in mario, so at least it isn't boring or repetitive. In this game you can play either play one of 2 military commando guys called Bill "Mad Dog" Rizer and Lance "Scorpion" Bean, don't ask me about the names, because I have no idea how they got them. Basically these 2 are sent to get rid of a terrorist group called the red falcon organization from taking over the world. The time period of this game takes place in 2633, pretty cool right? So overall I think the storyline is pretty good and it is at least unique in a way. I enjoyed each of the levels of this game and the plot that followed. So overall I gave the story a 7 out of 10 because it is pretty good and personally I don't think it gets more fun than taking down a terrorist group with big guns over 600 years from now in the future, am I right? So that is the reason why I gave it that score.

Depth: 6

As far as depth goes for this game, there are plenty of levels in this game for you to enjoy. The best part is that they are a decent length and they aren't like 3 seconds long and you move on to the nest one. They are also challenging as well, but that is all part of the fun factor the way I see it. like I mentioned when discussing the replay value, this game has quite a bit going for it, there is a good storyline and a good amount of challenging levels and difficult bosses in each one, so this game might take a bit of time, but I think that is what makes a game fun. It should be a little challenging every now and then in the game because it will become more fun and memorable each time you face each challenge. Plus, I think it would be pretty boring if this game was super easy and nothing that really made you think or form a strategy because it would be dull and it would probably make you never want to play it again. So I think the gameplay itself as well as the good amount of levels and bosses contribute enough to earn this game a depth of 6 which is pretty good for an arcade game considering they are rather easy and repetitive while this game's levels are all different each time.

Difficulty: 9

I am not even going to sugarcoat it, this game is hard! I think it is perhaps the most difficult NES game you will probably ever play, hence why I think it is such a great shooting game in the first place. The reason why it is such a great action/ shooting game is because you get a rush while playing that very few games in its time offered. There will be tough enemies to beat and challenging bosses as well. And some levels are going to be pretty difficult since almost the entire screen is filled with bullets. But I wouldn't let this discourage you from playing, it may be difficult, but that doesn't mean that it is absolutely impossible to do. Every level is filled with challenges and obstacles that will pummel you without mercy but, it will leave you wanting to come back for more, and in my opinion, any game that does that, is excellent. So while it may be hard, it is no excuse to turn around, quit and give up. With practice, you will get the hang of this game and how it works and you will be able to get through it easier. All in all, I gave this game a 9 for difficulty, don't let the score intimidate you though, it is still a lot of fun and it isn't an impossible hard, rather a good type of hard if you know what I mean. The challenges will make you want to come back and play this game more and more is what I/m getting at. Like I said, I can guarantee it is one of , if not, the hardest NES game that you will ever play, but it is worth your time to try and play it!

Controls:

Control wise, this game's controls are really simple and easy to learn, as I said before, one button is for shooting and the other is for jumping and crouching which is pretty straightforward and that is all you will really need for this game. The controls aren't really a challenge to learn because the main focus of this game is how you will react to the bullets and how you will dodge and avoid them. So that's all I have to say as far as controls go in this game.

Overall: 9.3

I must say that this is an amazing shooter game that was the best in its time and I still consider it one of the best of today. Many aspects of this game are amazing, detailed and ahead of its time which make this game all the more fun for me. his game will constantly throw challenges at you and it all comes down to how you react to them. If you are a fan of shooting and action type games, this one is calling for you! I had a great experience with this game and I hope you can enjoy it just as much I did.

So what did you think of my review? Please feel free to comment on it and provide constructive feedback so that I can become a better reviewer. I hope you enjoyed this review! Thanks for reading!

Graphics 8 Sound 9 Depth 6 Story 7 Difficulty 9

Contra Box Description:

The universe teeters on the brink of total annihilation at the hands of the vile alien warmonger, Red Falcon. Earth's only hope rests with you, a courageous member of the Special Forces elite commando squad. Your mission: Battle deep into the deadly Amazon jungle, where the Red Falcon and his galactic henchmen have transformed ancient Mayan temples into awesome monuments dedicated to mass destruction. A multitude of weapons, from rapid-fire machine guns to high-tech lasers are at your disposal as you sweat blood, fighting past 3-D mazes, underground security systems, and tropical forests surrounded by giant waterfalls and alien cannons. This is the ultimate test for the ultimate guerrilla warrior. And if you survive, Earth survives!

Contra Description: In the year 2631, a small meteorite has fallen into the Galuga archipelago, located 20km northeast off the coast of New Zealand. Two years later, a terrorist group known as Red Falcon has seized the island in preparation for an alien invasion. The earth's marines sent two members of their elite Contra unit, Bill Rizer and Lance Bean, to neutralize the terrorists.

As either Bill (player 1) or Lance (player 2), the player must get to the end of each stage, shooting everything in sight, while avoiding enemy fire themselves. The player can upgrade their standard-issue rifle into one of four different weapons, including the powerful spread shot.

8.4 - Contra Review - Darkpower508Ever played a game just because of a code you wanted to use? I have. It was Contra. I wanted to use the 30 lives cheat just beca... Graphics 9 Sound 9 Addictive 7 Story 4 Depth 8 Difficulty 10Review Rating: 4.8/5 Submitted: 12-02-11 Updated: 12-05-11
Review Replies: 0
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9 - basic and nice - THE Jnow let me just say one thing about this game yes its hard yes its difficult but
and heres the things it is one of my favreite ... Graphics 7 Sound 8 Addictive 9 Story 6 Depth 10 Difficulty 10Review Rating: 4.7/5 Submitted: 05-28-11
Review Replies: 2
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9.4 - Contra Review. NES - billythekidmons..Sorry for the late review I have been quite busy with other more important matters this week and the one before it, on with our ... Graphics 8 Sound 7 Addictive 10 Depth 8 Difficulty 10Review Rating: 4.6/5 Submitted: 10-09-11
Review Replies: 3
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10 - contra review - minorman4Contra is a fun and addicting game yet it is near impossible to complete it without the famous Konami cheat. I played it and pla... Graphics 10 Sound 9 Addictive 10 Story 5 Depth 3 Difficulty 9Review Rating: 3.6/5 Submitted: 08-04-11
Review Replies: 4
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9.8 - Old School Classic Shooter - benisOverall: 9.8. This is a game that everyone knows and loves. At the time, it was such a great blend of action and strategy. The c... Graphics 7 Sound 8 Addictive 10 Story 6 Depth 9 Difficulty 9Review Rating: 3/5 Submitted: 02-28-15
Review Replies: 0
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sloanstar1000 10-24-13 - 02:06 PMI never spend the most time on just one level more than contra.

jerryaberry 10-02-13 - 06:28 PMI agree but for some reason the 1st level of both Contra and Contra 3 give me the most difficulty, potentially too many enemies and projectiles on screen at once. I know if I trained a bit with save states to eliminate them faster I could overcome this.

rcarter2 10-02-13 - 11:58 AMthe sand trap boss and the Final boss in his first form.

rcarter2 10-02-13 - 11:57 AMI always felt this game was much harder than Contra 3. Didn't really think Contra 3 was all that hard, honestly. The only difficult level, in my opinion, is the final one (just because of the very beginning). The only bosses I thought were hard were......

jerryaberry 09-27-13 - 03:37 PMI noticed this game loops back to the beginning and the points don't reset as in Contra 3. Contra 3 ends after hard mode though. Since you can't select the difficulty on this, does it ever end and does it get harder with each loop.

chadsmith1 08-21-13 - 08:47 PMfinnaly beat the damn game. some bosses are just ridiculous and seem like you cant beat them without dieing because of what looks like impossible to avoid attacks. definitely a easier experience than trying to beat contra 3 on hard mode though.

Jordanv78 07-24-13 - 01:15 PMYeah I'm not impressed with someone doing that either. Kinda defeats the purpose. I mean who cares if you get a score of several million if all you do is stand in a corner with your button pushed down?

rcarter2 07-23-13 - 02:01 PMnguyenminhthien: absolutely not. I don't like the idea of leaving my computer with keys pressed with some object. I only have a laptop, so I don't want to accidentally damage it in any way.

rcarter2 07-21-13 - 04:10 PMCan't say anyone should be impressed with JustAnotherGame's score. Anyone can get in a safe spot, have something hold the key down, and leave their computer for 12 hours. It is sad.

Jangfei 07-04-13 - 03:05 PMi can beat the games without dying :) waiting for the speedrun contest

musicmaker 05-26-13 - 04:40 PMI used the Konami code, and I STILL got a game over. :/